Tag: christianity

Betrayal…

The description pierced my heart. The emotions conveyed so raw, so poignant. The narrator describing his restlessness. Being in anguish. Overtaken by fear and trembling and horror.

But what was even more shocking was the source of all this turmoil. It wasn’t an enemy taunting him, arrogantly insulting him — something he could’ve handled. It wasn’t some other adversary — then he could’ve hidden.

It was his friend.

The narrator lived centuries ago. His name is David, once a shepherd boy and later a king. He goes on to describe this “friend” in Psalm 55 of the Bible.

  • He was his equal, his companion, his close friend.
  • They used to do things together, support and encourage each other.
  • He betrayed his friends.
  • He broke his promises.
  • His words were smooth as butter… yet they were drawn swords.

The anguish David expresses literally jumps off the page. It emphasizes how nothing so pierces and destroys our hearts like the stabs of someone we’re close to. Someone we once trusted.

This week is what is referred to in the Christian calendar as Holy Week. It’s the period of time spanning Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey (Palm Sunday), the Last Supper (when He celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples and then was betrayed by one of them), the Crucifixion (what is referred to as Good Friday), and Easter (the day He was resurrected from the dead).

A gut-wrenching part of Holy Week occurs when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, sold Jesus out for thirty pieces of silver. Sold Him to those who wanted Him dead.

Judas had been with Jesus for three years. He was part of the group of twelve who followed Christ all over the countryside, learning from Him, observing miracles, seeing lives transformed. Wouldn’t you think that after all that time together Judas would have a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus? A relationship built on trust? A relationship that would mean more than a handful of coins?

Trust is the foundation of any relationship. But when that trust is broken, when one is betrayed the results are devastating.

Sadly, our world is filled with the aftermath of betrayal...

  • Marriages that end in divorce.
  • Friendships that dissolve.
  • Working relationships that disintegrate when one person does all the work but someone else gets the credit/recognition/a bonus.
  • Even our bodies betray us as we age: forgetfulness, sore/stiff joints, sagging muscles replace our once vibrant selves.
  • Some would feel the church has also betrayed them, citing hypocrisy and lack of authenticity as reasons to give up on anything related to God.

What a bleak picture!

How then do we cope? What can we learn from David’s words? From Judas’ example?

  • People let us down. They disappoint. They say and do things that affect us to the very core of our being.
  • Bad things happen. Heartache happens.
  • Life isn’t always fair.

The Psalm goes on to offer some advice, even though I must admit it sounds too simplistic:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you…”

The reason this works is because — ultimately — vengeance isn’t ours to mete out, but rather is in God’s hands. That’s not much comfort when in the midst of betrayal, but the more I get to know God, the more I realize that He truly is Someone I can trust. He knows all that I go through… my hurts, my confusion, my struggles, and yes, my betrayals. He knows and understands because His only Son also went through the unspeakable pain of being betrayed.

Restlessness. Anguish. Fear. Trembling. Horror. Betrayal. Broken promises. Back-stabbing words.

Whatever you may be going through, no matter how deep the hurt, how raw the scars… may you find a glimmer of hope in knowing that you’re not alone. You’re seen. You’re heard. You’re loved by a Father who wants to heal your heartache, your brokenness. And somehow… may that encourage you to not give up.

And together, as we face whatever challenges life throws at us, may we have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”

EARTHQUAKE!!!

drawing credit: lizadonnelly.substack.com

I thought I was imagining it … I was sitting at my desk in our fifth floor apartment when I started sensing that my chair was moving. My husband, only a few feet away, didn’t notice anything. But then the rocking chair started swaying, as did the trees outside. The movement intensified, as did my fears. Later, we learned the earthquake only lasted a couple of minutes. Minutes that seemed to last forever.

I frantically tried to call our two kids to tell them how much I love them — in case we were goners. Yes, I was that scared! The call didn’t go through for who knows what reason — internet signals messed up? God’s intervention so that I didn’t freak out our kids?!

We then took the stairway down to the parking area where tenants from our twin eight-story buildings had gathered. One woman was crying. Others were huddled together. All of us in shock. Our good friends from Japan — “pros” living with earthquakes — encouraged and calmed us. Gave us helpful hints on what to do if this ever happens again.

When it was deemed safe to go back in the building, we took the stairs back to our apartment. At least we had remembered when exiting and returning to our home that it would be best to avoid the elevators!

We then discovered that the quake had literally shaken some things up in our apartment. Our dresser drawers had opened. The sliding glass door on our balcony now had a gap of several inches instead of being tightly closed. Our desks had slid apart. A few books had fallen over.

Overall, however, our city fared well — especially compared to those who lived near the 7.7 magnitude epicenter (we’re 525 miles/845 km away). Oh, how we grieve with those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. Unimaginable sorrow.

The following day I wrote in my journal:

The reality of our own mortality —
when thrust upon us in such a vivid way —
is sobering.

Intellectually, I know that my death will usher me
into the presence of the Lord —
and what could be more wonderful than that?!?

I also know that life here on earth
is only a small blip on the timeline of eternity.

But yesterday —
standing in our living room
not knowing if the three floors above us
would soon snuff out my life —

I didn’t want to see Jesus then!
I didn’t feel ready!

from my journal Saturday, March 29th

God graciously spared us. But this sobering incident has made me ask myself some questions:

  • Am I ready to meet God??? Why was I so hesitant???
  • Am I keeping short accounts regarding any sin in my life — confessing anything that is short-circuiting my relationship with God? Forgiving others? Forgiving myself?
  • Are there any relational issues I’m not dealing with/avoiding? Misunderstandings that need to be cleared up? Words that need to be spoken?
  • What about family and friends who aren’t yet believers?

I’ve also been pondering some things God says:

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear
though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46: 1-2

“Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet My unfailing love for you
will NOT be shaken
nor My covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord,
who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54: 10

Have no fear of sudden disaster…
for the Lord will be at your side…
Proverbs 3:25-26

“Sudden disasters” aren’t only acts of nature, like our recent earthquake. It can be a telephone call that brings devastating news. Or walking down the street in broad daylight and being mugged. Or returning from vacation and seeing that your home, all your earthly belongings have gone up in smoke — literally. Or having your job terminated from one day to the next. Or … the list goes on and on.

All of these “sudden disasters” shake us to the core of our being. Our stability is rattled — like having the rug pulled out from under our feet. Our confidence is flagging. Our hope often turns to despair. What we believe and what we’re experiencing collide — and make us question God.

Even though we have since been assured that our building was constructed according to a strict, earthquake-withstanding code, I recognize that I need to put my hope, my confidence in something, Someone greater. Something, Someone that will withstand the storms of life.

Anyone who listens to My teaching
and follows it is
wise,
like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
Though the rain comes in torrents
and the flood waters rise
and the winds beat against that house,
it won’t collapse
because it is built on bedrock.

But anyone who hears My teaching
and doesn’t obey it is
foolish,
like a person who builds a house on sand.
When the rains and floods come
and the winds beat against that house,
it will collapse
with a mighty crash.

Jesus speaking, Matthew 7:24-26

Yes, I was scared. Yes, we survived. And yes, as a Christ-follower I’m endeavoring to learn from this experience so that I’m better prepared to face whatever “sudden disasters” may come my way down the road.

My desire is to build upon and cling to the Rock, the One I call my Lord and Savior. May I encourage you to do the same… and together, no matter what surprises come our way in this life, we’ll have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”

“Befriend” faithfulness???

photo credit: Roxhill Media

Have you ever read something so many times that you fail to actually SEE what is written?! That happened to me this morning as I was reading in the book of Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible.

When I was a sophomore at university, new to the Christian faith, my friend Cheryl encouraged me to read five Psalms and one Proverb each day. That meant I would read both books once a month, a practice that I maintained for decades. It was the foundation of my “Quiet Time,” a daily time set aside for Bible reading and study, prayer, and sometimes journaling. (Yes, the writing bug bit me a LONG time ago!)

So this morning, as I read Psalm 37, something jumped out that I had never seen before.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and
BEFRIEND faithfulness.
or
… CULTIVATE faithfulness.

Psalm 37: 3 (ESV, NASB)

BEFRIEND faithfulness. CULTIVATE faithfulness.

I usually associate BEFRIENDING with people. And so I asked myself how I would go about doing that:

  • Take the initiative in getting to know others, which often means going where they are — finding where they hang out, what their interests are.
  • Come alongside them to share their burdens, their victories and defeats, their joys and sorrows.
  • Listen well to “hear” their hearts.
  • Be willing to invest time, effort in others.

I also asked myself what CULTIVATING looks like. I grew up in the countryside. My dad always planted a large vegetable garden so that we would have fresh corn, tomatoes, green beans, and peas all summer long. But to harvest the crops took a LOT of work:

  • The soil first needed to be cleaned up: cornstalks and other vines removed.
  • Then the soil was “tilled,” broken up after having lain dormant since the previous growing season. This step was crucial to improve aeration of the soil as well as enhancing water infiltration.
  • Only then was it possible to begin planting seeds for the new crops.
  • Then they needed to be watered, weeded.
  • Sunshine helped with their growth, but we had to be ever vigilant of “critters” that may have viewed our potential harvest as THEIR feeding ground!
  • After waiting — letting nature take its course — we reaped the bounty of our efforts!

BEFRIEND faithfulness. CULTIVATE faithfulness.

So… how do befriending and cultivating apply to faithfulness???

Faithfulness is a quality grounded in the character of God. His very nature is to be faithful: dependable, loyal, constant, true, unswerving, trustworthy.

If I, then, am encouraged to befriend, to cultivate faithfulness I need to:

  • Take the initiative, be intentional in focusing my attention on God and others who are faithful.
  • Come alongside and embrace that which is true, faithful. That which reflects and represents what God is like.
  • The above happen by hanging out with other like-minded followers of Christ; by choosing what I allow my mind to “feed” on, be it the books I read, the TV shows I watch, the social media I interact with, the conversations I engage in.
  • Realize that there is a “cost” involved… and often the “cost” is time.
  • If I’m going to harvest a good crop of faithfulness I also need to be ruthless in preparing the soil of my heart, my mind. I need to break up any stubborn clods of soil that are hindering God and His Word from penetrating my heart.
  • I also need to get rid of weeds — regularly! Get rid of those things that entangle my thoughts, sap my energy, stunt my growth. And just as weeding the garden isn’t a one-time deal, neither is “weeding” the gunk in my life that needs to be dealt with.
  • Faithfulness grows as it’s watered, fed, nurtured. It happens progressively — not all at once. It takes time. The water and food that grow my faith are God and His Word. No-brainer, right?!? And yet sometimes, I want the finished crop without embracing the process.

Befriend faithfulness. Cultivate faithfulness. May we encourage one another in this life-long process, and together have joy in the journey of this thing called “Life!”